17. Dark Patterns Work (Unfortunately)

IT CAN BE PAINFUL TO ADMIT, but dark patterns do work.

They attract and retain millions of users across thousands of products every day.

That’s why it can be tempting to use dark patterns to deceive users, confuse them, or prompt them to buy more.

However, this means building our experience on shaky foundations.

When the deceptions are uncovered, users leave, our product empties, and our efforts go to waste.

Users don’t want to be taken hostage.

Users are looking for bridges.

Those who fail to provide them give advantages to the competition.